CIA Director William Burns held secret meeting in Kabul with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar  —  CIA Director William J. Burns held a secret meeting in Kabul on Monday with the Taliban's de facto leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in the highest-level face-to-face encounter between the Taliban …

Biden faces pressure to extend Afghanistan evacuation mission as Taliban warns against doing so  —  The United States faced mounting global pressure on Monday to extend its evacuation mission in Afghanistan past President Biden's Aug. 31 deadline, despite a Taliban warning against doing so.

Rep. Stephanie Murphy: We need infrastructure funding now  —  Those of us who call Central Florida home know — and the census just confirmed — that our region is growing rapidly.  It makes me proud that so many people want to live here.  But the dramatic population increase is outpacing efforts …

Even Amid a Crackdown, the Proud Boys Are Still Agitating  —  At least two dozen members of the Proud Boys face federal charges in the U.S. Capitol siege.  But on Sunday, members of the group were mobilizing once again in Oregon.  —  PORTLAND, Ore. — In the months since the siege …

With Pfizer's FDA approval, employers should now require COVID-19 vaccinations  —  Only through compulsory vaccination will America accomplish the monumental task in front of us - getting to herd immunity.  —  The Editorial BoardUSA TODAY  —  Full FDA approval was announced Monday for Pfizer's BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination.

Mark Sanford calls Graham ‘a canary in the coalmine’ on GOP's relationship with Trump  —  Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is a “canary in the coalmine” when it comes to the GOP's relationship with former President Trump, contending that the senator “has a good political nose for his base.”

300 recall ballots, drugs, multiple driver's licenses found in vehicle of passed out felon: Torrance police  —  Torrance police are investigating the discovery of hundreds of recall election ballots in a vehicle where a felon was found passed out with drugs, a loaded firearm and multiple driver's licenses …

He Walks the Line  —  More than 20 years ago, I sat down to talk with a Black cop from New York City.  He had a weightlifter's powerful hands, a quick-trigger tongue, and a scar on the back of his shaved head from his days in a youth gang.  —  At the time, the relationship between police officers and Black residents was raw.

‘An enormously valuable trove’: America's race against Afghan data  —  Having seized Kabul, the Taliban can tap into government databases and communications data to go after U.S. allies who don't get out.  —  An employee scans the eyes of a woman for biometric data needed to apply for a passport …

Monsoon Rains Just Washed Away Trump's ‘Impenetrable’ Border Wall  —  Photos show rusted steel border bollards along the Arizona border ripped from their hinges by the recent rains.  —  JE  —  Monsoon rainfall in southeast Arizona damaged sections of the multi-billion dollar border wall whose construction …

Devin Nunes lawsuit against GOP strategist dismissed in VA |  The Fresno Bee  —  A Virginia judge has dismissed the second of two lawsuits California Rep. Devin Nunes filed against a Republican political strategist who he claimed spread defamatory information about him leading up to his 2018 reelection campaign.

Cuomo commutes sentence of radical who took part in '81 robbery  —  David Gilbert, imprisoned for four decades, can take case to parole board  —  ALBANY — Just hours before leaving office, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo granted clemency to five men, including the commutation of the 75-years …

Harris ‘Well’ as She Departs Singapore After Lengthy Delay  — Vice president traveling to Vietnam in next leg of Asia visit  — Trip comes amid questions on U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan  —  Vice President Kamala Harris departed Singapore more than three hours hours late Tuesday …

Biden expected to decide in 24 hours whether to extend Aug 31 deadline -source  —  U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to decide within 24 hours whether to extend the Aug. 31 Afghanistan withdrawal deadline in order to give the Pentagon time to prepare, an administration official said on Monday.

Newsom's big problem in the recall election?  Likability  —  Few politicians possess the natural gifts needed to inspire voters.  And Gov. Gavin Newsom certainly is not one of them.  —  If the 53-year-old Democrat were blessed with the ability to attract throngs of devoted followers …

Arizona's sham election ‘audit’ report delayed after Cyber Ninjas CEO and others test positive for Covid-19  —  (CNN)The report detailing the findings of contractors who conducted Arizona's sham “audit” of last year's election results — which had been expected Monday …

Revealed: how California police chased a nonexistent ‘antifa bus’  —  Authorities in rural northern counties spread misinformation and launched aircraft surveillance in response to false rumors about antifa ‘infiltrators’, according to records obtained by the Guardian

Giuliani associate Igor Fruman expected to plead guilty on Wednesday  —  New York (CNN)Igor Fruman, a Rudy Giuliani associate charged in a campaign finance case, is scheduled to plead guilty during an appearance in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, according to a court filing.

Why Some Socially Liberal Gen-Z Voters Aren't Leaving The GOP  —  Welcome to Political Outliers, a column that explores groups often portrayed as all voting the same way.  In today's climate, it's easy to focus on how a group identifies politically, but that's never the full story.

Cuomo's ridiculous ‘farewell’ speech shows he hasn't learned a thing  —  MORE FROM:  —  The interest in watching Andrew Cuomo's farewell speech recalls a story about the death of Hollywood mogul Louis B. Mayer.  His funeral was mobbed, but not necessarily by admirers.